Title: ANALYSIS OF AN ANTACID USING BACK TITRATION

Aim: To determine the percentage of the active ingredient in a brand of antacid using back
titration.
Apparatus: Antacid tablets, burette, distilled water, beaker, conical flask, measuring
cylinder, dropper, pipette, scale, clamp stand, filter paper, funnel, stirring rod,
Reagents: Sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, phenolphthalein, methyl orange and
potassium hydrogen phthalate (PHP)
Procedure:
I. BACK TITRATION
(a) An antacid tablet was placed on the analytical balance using filter paper.
(b) The tablet was transferred to a 250ml conical flask.
(c) 25ml of 1M HCL was pipetted and added to the conical flask.
(d) 2-3 drops of methyl orange was added and titrated with sodium hydroxide
until the endpoint is achieved.
(e) Steps (a) to (d) were repeated using a new tablet and another conical flask.

II. STANDARDIZATION OF SODIUM HYDROXIDE SOLUTION

(a) 4g of KHP was weighed on filter paper.
(b) The solid was transferred to a conical flask
(c) 20ml of distilled water was added to the flask
(d) 2 – 3 drops of phenolphthalein were added to the flask and titrated with
sodium hydroxide until the endpoint was achieved.
(e) Steps (a) – (d) were repeated using a fresh flask.
Results:
I. BACK TITRATION
Antacid Tablet 1 Antacid Tablet 2
Mass of Tablet/g 2.118 2.026
Initial Volume/cm3 0 9.0
Final Volume/cm3 9.0 18.1
Volume of NaOH used/cm3 9.0 9.1
TABLE SHOWING THE VOLUME OF NaOH USED IN THE BACK TITRATION

II. STANDARDIZATION OF SODIUM HYDROXIDE SOLUTION

Flask 1 Flask 2
Mass of KHP/g 4.005 4.013
Initial Volume/cm3 0 20.35
Final Volume/cm3 20.35 40.60
Volume of NaOH used/cm3 20.35 20.25
TABLE SHOWING THE VOLUME OF NaOH USED IN THE STANDARDIZATION OF NaOH 

Calculations:
 I. BACK TITRATION
a) Determine the moles of HCl contained in 25ml of 1M HCl
# of mol of HCL = 25ml × 1M
(25 /1000)
=
1
= 0.025mol
b) For each flask used, determine the moles of NaOH used in the titration using the
molar concentration from (I) (d) above.
avg . volume conc
# of mol of NaOH used in flask 1 = ×Vol .of NaOh used
1000
−3
0.968 mold m −3
= × 9.00 mold m
1000
= 0.000968 × 9.00

= 0.0087mol
avg . volume conc
# of mol of NaOH used in flask 2 = ×Vol .of NaOh used
1000

0.968 mold m−3

= × 9.1 mold m−3
1000

= 0.000968 × 9.1

= 0.0088mol
c) Using the mole ratio of NaOH : HCL (equation required), determine the moles of
HCL which reacted with the NaOH used for titration.

Balanced Equation: NaOH(aq) + HCl(aq) → NaCl(s) + H20(l) 

Mole ratio: 1 : 1 
Moles of HCL = 1 × average # of mol NaOH
(0.0087 mol +0.0088 mol)
=1×(
2
= 0.0086mol

d) For each flask. Determine the moles of HCL which related with the calcium carbonate
in the table.
(Using the mole ratio of NaOH : HCL = 1:1)
# moles of HCl which reacted in tablet 1 = 1 × Mol of HCl that reacted with NaOH in tablet 1
 = 1 × 0.0087mol
= 0.0087mol HCl
# moles of HCl which reacted in tablet 2 = 1 × Mol of HCl that reacted with NaOH in tablet 2

= 1 × 0.0088mol

= 0.0088mol HCl
e) Using the ole ratio of HCL : CaCO3 (equation required), determined the moles of
CaCO3 in each tablet used.
Balanced Equation: CaCO3(aq) + 2HCl(aq) → NaCl(s) + H20(l) 

Mole ratio: 1 : 2
moles of HCl∈tablet 1
Moles of CaCO3 used in tablet 1  =
2
0.0087 M
=
2

= 0.00435mol CaCO3
f) Determine the mass (in milligrams) of CaCO3 in each tablet.

Mass of CaCO3 in tablet 1 = RMM × # of moles of HCl in Tablet 1

= (40 + 12 + (16 × 3) )gmol-1 × 0.00435mol

= (100 × 0.0044)gmol-1 × 1000

= 440mg
g) Using the masses of the tablets, determine the average mass of a tablet.
( Mass of tablet 1+ Mass of tablet 2)
Avg. mass of tablets =
2
2.118 g+ 2.026 g
=
2
4.144
= ×1000
2
= 2072g
h) Using the mases of CaCO3 obtained for each tablet; determine the average amount of
CaCO3 in each tablet
( Mass of CaCO 3∈tablet 1+ Mass of CaCO 3∈tablet 2)
Avg. mass of CaCO3 in each tablets:=
2
=¿ ¿
 = 437.5mg
II. STANDARDIZATION OF SODIUM HYDROXIDE SOLUTION

a) For each flask of (KHP) used, determine the moles of KHP. 

4.005 g
# of moles of KHP used in flask 1 =
RMM of Potassium Hydrogenpthalate

4.005 g
=
204.2 gmol−1
= 0.0196mol 

4.0135 g
# of moles of KHP used in flask 2 =
RMM of Potassium Hydrogenpthalate

4.013 g
=
204.2 gmol−1
= = 0.0197mol

b) Using the mole ratio of KHP to NaOH (equation required), determine

the moles of NaOH in each flask. 

Balanced Equation: NaOH (aq) + KHP (aq) → NaKP (aq) + H20 (l) 
Mole ratio of KHP to NaOH = 1 : 1
Hence, number of mol NaOH in flask 1 = 1 × (# of moles of KHP used in flask 1)
= 1 × 0.0196mol
= 0.0196mol 
Hence, number of mol NaOH in flask 2 = 1 × (# of moles of KHP used in flask 2)
l  = 1 × 0.0197mol
= 0.0197mol 
c) Calculate the molar concentration of NaOH for each flask used.

0.0196 mol
Molarity of NaOH in flask 1 =
Volume of NaOH used ∈flask 1
0.0196
=
20.35 cm3
0.0196
=
(20.35/1000)
 0.0196
=
0.02035
= 0.963moldm-3 
0.0197 mol
Molarity of NaOH in flask 2 =
Volume of NaOH used ∈ flask 2
0.0197
=
20.25 cm3
0.0197
=  
(20.25/1000)
0.0197
=
0.02025
= 0.973moldm-3 
d) Determine the average concentration of NaOH using the two closet values,
Molarity of NaOH ∈flask 1+ Molarity of NaOH ∈flask 2
Avg. Volume Conc. =
2

= ¿¿
1.936 moldm−3
=
2

= 0.968moldm-3 NaOH
Discussion:
In chemistry, a primary standard is a reagent that is very pure, stable, not
hygroscopic, representative of the number of moles the substance contains, and easily
weighed. Ideally, it’s also non-toxic, inexpensive, and readily available. Furthermore, a
primary standard provides a reference to find unknown concentrations(analyte) in titrations
and is used to prepare secondary standards. In this back titration experiment, Potassium
Hydrogen Phthalate was used as the primary standard. Potassium Hydrogen Phthalate
(KHP) was used because it is an air stable solid, allowing it to be easily weighed accurately.
The calculated average mass of CaCO3 present in each tablet was found to be 437.5mg. 

Precaution:
1. Ensure that the balance is displaying grams.
2. Ensure there are no air bubble in the pipette.
3. Ensure all readings are taken at eye level.
Conclusion:
To determine the percentage of the active ingredient in the antacid used is 437.5mg.